Kolkata airport (CCU) is at Dum Dum, about 17 km north-east of the centre. Prepaid taxi counters sit in the arrivals hall, app cabs use marked pick-up zones, and the Yellow Line metro stops at Jai Hind Bimanbandar, with services still expanding. By road, Park Street takes 45 to 75 minutes; Salt Lake and New Town take 20 to 40.
Where is Kolkata airport?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) sits at Dum Dum, about 17 km north-east of the centre of Kolkata. It is the only airport serving the city and the main air gateway for West Bengal. Domestic and international flights share one integrated terminal, so a connection between the two is a walk through the same building rather than a bus transfer. The Hooghly and the old city lie to the south-west.
The airport is closer to the newer districts than to the old centre. Salt Lake and New Town, the business and IT areas east of the city, are 20 to 40 minutes away by road. Park Street and the central hotel belt take longer, roughly 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Morning and evening peaks, monsoon rain and big festival weeks all push the upper figure. Add time if a train connection follows.
Inside the integrated terminal
Arrivals at CCU run through one hall for domestic and international passengers. Foreign visitors queue at immigration, and e-Visa holders join the same counters, so keep the printed approval and travel on the passport used in the application. Baggage belts and customs follow. Signage is in Bengali and English, and staff at the information desk can point you to the counters. Allow extra time on a busy evening, when several long-haul flights land together.
The arrivals hall is the place to sort out the first practicalities before leaving the building. Prepaid taxi counters, money exchange desks, ATM machines and mobile phone shops sit along it. Everything is indoors and signposted, so there is no need to step outside until you have decided how to travel. Touts may approach near the exits; deal with counters instead. Keep the address of your stay written down, since a driver may not recognise a building by name.
- Immigration: Counters for foreign passports and e-Visa holders are in the arrivals hall.
- Baggage: Belt numbers appear on screens, and trolleys wait beside the carousels.
- Customs: Green and red channels; declare restricted goods before leaving the hall.
- Arrivals hall: Counters for taxis, cash and SIM cards line the public area.
SIM cards and money at arrivals
Mobile phone counters in the arrivals hall sell prepaid SIM cards to foreign visitors. Bring your passport and visa, and expect a photograph and a form. Registration can take a while, and the connection may not activate until later in the day, so do not rely on data for the first hour. Rules and paperwork change, so confirm the requirements with the operator. Ask for the total validity and data allowance before paying, and keep the packaging until the card works.
Currency exchange desks in the arrivals hall handle major currencies and give a receipt, and ATMs nearby take international cards. Rates and charges vary, so compare the board with the machine before changing a large amount. Cards and UPI work in hotels, malls and restaurants across Kolkata, while taxis, markets and street food still run on cash. Carry a small amount of Indian rupees before leaving the terminal. Keep the receipt separate from the cash.
- Exchange desks: Inside the arrivals hall; ask for a receipt for any transaction.
- ATMs: Several machines take international cards; carry a backup card.
- SIM counters: Passport and visa needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Cards and UPI: Accepted in hotels and restaurants, rarely by taxi drivers.
Prepaid taxis from CCU
The prepaid taxi counter is the simplest way out of the airport if you want a fixed arrangement and no haggling. Pay at the counter inside the arrivals hall, take the slip, then follow the official signs to the prepaid rank outside. The slip shows the amount and the zone. Ignore anyone who offers a taxi inside the building, and do not hand over the slip until the ride ends.
Prepaid cars are ordinary saloon taxis, and the queue can be long when several flights land together. Keep the slip safe and check the number plate against it. Air conditioning is worth asking for in April and May. Traffic on the approach roads is heavy from mid-morning to evening, so a ride that looks short on the map can take much longer than expected. A monsoon downpour slows everything for a while.
App cabs and yellow taxis
App cabs booked through a ride-hailing app pick up at marked zones outside the terminal rather than at the kerb by the doors. The app shows the zone and the meeting point, and the airport has signs for both. Follow the official signs, not a driver waving at you. Mobile data helps here, so sort a SIM before you order. Give the driver the terminal number as well as the zone, since the building has several entrances.
Yellow Ambassador taxis still wait at the airport and are metered. Insist on the meter before the car moves, and check that it starts at the flag fall rather than a number agreed on the spot. Drivers know the city well, which helps with old addresses in North Kolkata. Ask for the meter and the main road by name if the driver suggests a detour around a jam. Keep small notes ready for the end of the ride.
Can you take the metro from CCU?
Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro station serves the airport on the Yellow Line. The Yellow Line is only partly open and is still being extended, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for the current list of stations, first and last train times, and whether the line reaches the part of the city you need. If it does, the metro avoids road traffic completely. Allow time to walk from the terminal to the platform with bags.
Inside the city the metro is India's oldest, opened in 1984, and the network now runs on several lines. The Blue Line crosses the centre north to south through Shyambazar, Esplanade, Park Street and Kalighat. The Green Line links Howrah Maidan with Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. Do not assume a single line will reach your address; check the map first. Tickets come from machines and counters at every station.
How long does the ride take?
Road times from CCU depend far more on traffic than on distance. Park Street and the central hotel belt usually take 45 to 75 minutes. Salt Lake and New Town take 20 to 40 minutes. Early morning and late night runs sit at the lower end, while the evening peak, a monsoon downpour or a festival crowd can double the estimate. Build the range into any plan with a fixed start time.
Trains and flights are the reason most travellers worry about time. Howrah and Sealdah stations are on opposite sides of the centre, and the airport road joins the city in the north-east, so the route differs for each. A generous buffer is sensible for a long-distance train. If the buffer is short, take the metro where the Yellow Line reaches your destination. Kolkata station at Chitpur is nearer the airport than either.
- Park Street and centre: 45 to 75 minutes by road, depending on traffic.
- Salt Lake: 20 to 40 minutes by road from the terminal.
- New Town: 20 to 40 minutes by road; Eco Park and the IT offices sit here.
- Howrah: Across the river on the west bank; add the bridge crossing to any estimate.
Departing from Kolkata airport
For departures, allow two hours at CCU before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. Check-in desks and security queues build through the evening, when long-haul departures bunch together. Confirm the terminal and the check-in time with the airline, since schedules and counters change. The integrated terminal means domestic and international check-in sit in the same building. Keep passports and visas to hand at every checkpoint. Print or save the ticket confirmation.
Getting to the airport on time is the other half of the plan. The road north-east from the centre is busy from mid-morning, and the metro is more reliable when it fits your route. Leave the buffer in place and check Metro Railway Kolkata and traffic reports before setting out. A pre-booked app cab at an odd hour is easier to find than a taxi on the street. Allow extra time during Durga Puja and around Christmas.
Your first hours in Kolkata
Most visitors head straight to the hotel and start again after a shower. If the flight lands in the morning, the Maidan, Victoria Memorial and Park Street are an easy first loop from the central hotels, all reachable on the Blue Line. If it lands at night, eat near where you are staying and leave the sightseeing for daylight, when the streets are easier to read. Keep the first day light and let the heat set your pace.
Two things are worth settling on day one: a working phone number and a rough map of the metro lines. The Blue Line runs north to south through the centre, the Green Line crosses under the river, and the rest of the network is growing. After that, the city is a set of short hops between areas rather than one long sightseeing list. Neighbourhood guides help here: the old city, the colonial centre and the southern districts each reward a half day.
FAQ
How far is Kolkata airport from the city centre?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport sits at Dum Dum, about 17 km north-east of the centre. By road, Park Street and the central hotel area take 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic, while Salt Lake and New Town take 20 to 40 minutes. The Hooghly River and Howrah lie further away, on the far side of the city.
Does Kolkata airport have separate domestic and international terminals?
No. Domestic and international flights use one integrated terminal at CCU, so arrivals, check-in and security sit in the same building. Connecting between a domestic and an international flight is a walk rather than a transfer bus. Check the airline's information for the check-in row and the gate, since these change between flights.
Can you get from Kolkata airport to the city by metro?
Jai Hind Bimanbandar station serves the airport on the Yellow Line. The line is only partly open and is still being extended, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for the current stations, first and last train times, and whether it reaches your part of the city. Where it fits, the metro avoids road traffic entirely.
Where are the prepaid taxi counters at Kolkata airport?
The prepaid counters are inside the arrivals hall, before the exits. Pay there, take the slip, then follow the official signs to the prepaid rank outside. The slip records the amount and the destination zone. Ignore anyone offering a car inside the building, and check the number plate against the slip before getting in.
Where do app cabs pick up at Kolkata airport?
Ride-hailing app cabs use marked pick-up zones outside the terminal rather than the kerb by the doors. The app shows the zone and the meeting point, and the airport has signs for each. Follow the official signs. Data helps, so buy a SIM or use airport wi-fi before booking the car and giving the driver the terminal number.
How long does it take to reach Park Street from CCU?
Allow 45 to 75 minutes by road. The range is wide because traffic on the approach roads varies through the day. Early morning and late night rides sit near the lower figure, while the evening peak, heavy rain or a festival week push it higher. The metro is worth checking if the Yellow Line reaches that part of the city.
How early should you reach Kolkata airport for a flight?
Allow two hours before a domestic departure and three hours before an international one. Security and check-in queues build in the evening, when long-haul flights leave close together. Confirm the check-in time with the airline, since counters and schedules change, and add travel time from the city on top of that.
Can you buy a SIM card at Kolkata airport on arrival?
Yes. Mobile phone counters in the arrivals hall sell prepaid SIM cards to foreign visitors, usually against a passport and visa, with a photograph and a form. Activation can take a few hours, so do not depend on data immediately. Requirements change, so confirm the paperwork with the operator before paying.
Is there anywhere to change money at Kolkata airport?
Currency exchange desks and ATMs are in the arrivals hall. Desks handle major currencies and give a receipt; machines take international cards. Compare the posted rate with the ATM before changing a large sum. Cards and UPI are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants in Kolkata, but taxis, markets and street food need cash.
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Sources: Airports Authority of India, Metro Railway Kolkata, Kolkata Police, West Bengal Tourism.
Editorial review: 3 November 2026. Opening days, fares and festival dates change; check before you go.